Sermon Central
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Jesus Diaries
Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 24, 2002 (message contributor)
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1. Remember...
Contributed on May 24, 2002
What did Jesus mean by telling the Ephesian church to "remember the height from which you have fallen?"
OPEN: Art Toalston in The Baptist Press - Nov. 15, 2001 reported from New York and he wrote: “The cross has been saved. That’s the cross of steel beams uncovered as workers in New York cleared away debris at the World Trade Center. Recovery worker Frank Silecchia, who has championed the cross’ ...read more
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2. Where Was God?
Contributed on Jun 3, 2002
When persecution and trial attack God’s people, even some of the most faithful ask: "Where Was God?"
OPEN: Clarence Jordan, author of the "Cotton Patch" New Testament translation and founder of the interracial Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, was getting a red-carpet tour of another minister’s church. With pride the minister pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decorations. As ...read more
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3. The Comatose Congregation
Contributed on Jun 24, 2002
Sardis was a church that had a reputation for being alive - but Jesus saw it as dead. How can we avoid falling into the same patterns that threatened Sardis?
OPEN: I once heard about a church that was so dead, that when a member happened to die during the worship service – the paramedics actually carried out 5 people before they finally got the right one. APPLY: Have you ever seen a dead church? (I asked for a show of hands). What does a dead ...read more
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4. Jesus Diaries - Making An Open Door
Contributed on Jul 3, 2002
Jesus promised Philadelphia an open door. What did it open to? And why would Philadelphia (a church of little strength) rate such an honor?
OPEN: There’s a story about a guy who happened to be visiting a friend who took him to an old one-room church building in the backwoods of Arkansas. He didn’t realize what kind of church it was until the minister started pulling rattlesnakes out of a burlap bag & passing them up one side of the ...read more
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5. Jesus Diaries - The Poor Little Rich Church
Contributed on Jul 7, 2002
Laodicea has always been known as the "luke warm" church. But what caused them to be so nauseating to Jesus. Their sin was subtle but just as dangerous as any that the other churches suffered from.
OPEN: I once heard of the skipper of boat that was sinking in the ocean who frantically radioed for help. Finally, the Coast Guard answered his plea. The Coast Guard replied: "We’re on our way. What is your position? Repeat, what is your position?" The yachtsman responded: "I’m executive ...read more
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6. The Power Of Praise
Contributed on Jul 15, 2002
Why did Jesus take John into God’s throne room first?
OPEN: Bill Crockett tells of the time he was delivering a motivational lecture to a group of young Navy men. “I spoke in great detail about why I joined the military and how much it meant to me. Finishing my story, I pointed at a sharp looking sailor out in the audience and asked him why he ...read more